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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
Saturn. See Senasuru. Savanda-madana. A companion of Ratikan. Savat. See Kanda. Sayam-jata. See Rice. Seas. See Seven Seas.
Sellan Kadavara. A demon, worshipped with an altar of sticks and sacrifice of a cock in Kadavara-tovil. The K.-kavi relates that Uma created 7 sons from a pond, and the Rşis made them into one, Sellan, the “Sport God”, who came to Ceylon. His robe is red, white and blue, his turban red, his matted locks plaited together; on his shoulders is a golden chain; in his right hand is an enormous hoe (udälla), in his left an iron mace. He receives offerings in a scoop near the Buddha, walks round the shore carrying a torch, and rides a white peacock. He has charge of Ceylon during the Kali Age, and is chief over the Yakas, being invoked as Senevi-ratna Kadavara (q. v.). His sacred precincts in Ceylon are Kalâgama, Tirikunâ-malaya, Puttalama, Mannarama, Halâvata, Velasi-madan-rata, and the 15 Vannipattu; he dwells in Kataragama. With a leopard he pursues cattle and sheds their blood. Invoked in Kalavara-kavi, Tedâlankaraya, and Tota-kumara-baliya ; exorcised in Kadavarairasa-pâda.
Senasuru (Sanaiscara.) The planet Saturn. According to Nava-graha- antiya and Horás., his father was the Sun, his mother Aditya Devi; he was born in Sayurâ-rata, and is black of hue. His symbol is a nadavata, his colour blue, his vehicle a crow or Garuda, his tree the nuga (ficus indica or banyan), his offering blue rice, his region the west, and he has 3 cobra-heads, a blue body, a trident, and 4 hands, according to Nava-graha-sivu-antiga, N.-9.-mal-baliya, Mal-bali-upata. In the bali-rite of one Nava-graha-santiya he is figured by a central image with a crown, conch, sword, and chain of human heads. Invoked in Tis-päyê kima, as born in Savu-rata, and regent of the 20th päya, with a blue body 9000 gavvas (31,500 yards) in Leight, and 4 hands; in Rakusu-bali (see Rakusu) as dwelling in a bower of the nuga tree, and receiving as offering rotten rê (rohita) fish. See aleo Dala Raja.
Senerat. A king, on whom see Piliya Devi.
Senevi-ratna (Vahala Bandara). The S.-r--devi-kadavara-kavi relates that when the Asuras tried to prevent the Sun from rising on the Dawn-mountain (udagiri), Kataragama Deva and the Gods with tne sacred cock fought against them, but as they failed Kataragama Deva bade S. attack them. He did so, and enabled the Sun to rise ; for this he received Ceylon and the title of Senevi, “ general." Apparently he rose from the waters. He observes the Buddhist Perfections (pâramita), in order to become a Buddha. He has blue silken robes, a golden girdle, a red turban, a golden scarf on his shoulder, and a golden armlet; ke carries a wand, or a glittering fiery sword. He has charge of Ceylon for 5000 years. As he guards the portal of Kataragama Deva, he is called Vahala Bandara, Däờimunda gave him authority in Ceylon. He smites ginners with sickness, gripping them by the throat; he punished the 60 priests who broke the tank. The whole world sacrifices to him at sunset. He watches at the golden gate of Lambodara (Gaqa-pati). Holding a pañcâyudha (fivefold weapon) and sama-sära (meteorio bolt ?), he with the Seven Kadavaras walks in front of Kanda. When Kanda (here said to have ten avatars, and hence apparently identified with Vişnu) rides on his blue peacock to the Mänik-ganga river, S. with an arrow and golden torch walks before him to the shore. Every day he returns before dawn to renew the war with the Asuras, and to enable the sun to rise. He visits the celestial Kirikuru mountain,
